Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club on 22nd January 2015. Leader Robin Coombs (clarinette), Paul Higgs (trumpet), Bill Todd (tromb), Dave Barnes (piano), Roger Curphey (d.bass), John Stewart (banj&guitar) and Allan Clarke (drms). Photo by Mike Witt.
PHOENIX DIXIELAND JAZZ BAND was the order of the day here at the Farnborough Jazz Club on 23rd January 2015. Leader and clarinettist ROBIN COOMBS had booked PAUL HIGGS to be on trumpet, BILL TODD on trombone, DAVE BARNES on piano, ROGER CURPHEY on double bass, JOHN STUART on guitar (WHO’S HE? huh) and ALLAN CLARKE on drums.
Although not their first number (I missed what that was called) I must begin my notes with ‘Wabash Blues’, a brilliant jaunty song, bringing on the dancers. It was certainly well appreciated, plenty of applause. ‘I Found a New Baby’ is my next number to tell you of, because I jotted down ‘phew, fabulous solos’! ‘
Dave Barnes (piano) looking pensive. Seen here with Roger Curphey (d.bass) and Allan Clarke (drums). Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent) 22jan2015. Photo by Mike Witt.
There is quite a story attached to the next number. A while ago, Dave met up with an old friend, Ian Grant, lyricist of ‘Let There Be Love’ (1940). He showed Dave some lyrics he’d written fifty years ago called ‘We’re Handing it to You Mr Handy, for handing us the St. Louis Blues’, referring to W.C. Handy, composer of St. Louis Blues. He asked Dave if he could put some music to it. The end result is they played it for us and how I wished I had recorded it. It had a lovely beat and certainly packed the dance floor.
Paul Higgs (trmp) and Robin Coombs, leader (&clrt) of Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band (seen here taking a breather) at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent) on 22nd January 2015. Photo by Mike Witt
‘When I married Sweet Loraine’ was sung by Paul, then he was featured in the next number, ‘Sometimes I wonder Why I Spend the Lonely Nights’. Wowie Paul, you are brilliant. Now the next number is a great old favourite, made more famous by Glen Miller, namely ‘Little Brown Jug’ and several of us got up to do our (fun Charleston style) line-dance. What can I say about ‘Pennies From Heaven’? Only that I was busy dancing! I must mention ‘At the Jazz Band Ball’, of course a great Kenny Ball trad favourite. They certainly did it justice too – fabulous drumming from Allan. Of course the next number, sung by Bill, was played for our Len (for obvious reasons), ‘Please Don’t Talk About Us – One Eyes Gone’. Ol’ Lennie has a great sense of humour.
John Stewart takes a solo, whilst Bill Todd (tromb) looks on. Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band on 23Jan2015 at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent). Photo by Mike Witt.
My last to mention is ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’. It was sung by Dave, plus must mention a great solo by John on banjo. Well another super evening from this band and so you must make a note they are back on 5th June 2015. Don’t forget our new times are 8:00pm till 11.00pm – plenty of fun people to meet and you can enjoy some dancing (even if you are bad at dancing, we don’t mind) and probably some audience participation singing too – knowing our fun audience.
Diane and Keith